Tristan R. Williams, 30, had pleaded guilty in March to second-degree murder in the death of Kylie D. Williams. He had told authorities the death occurred when cats in his apartment accidentally overturned the child’s bouncing chair.

A Liberty man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for causing his infant daughter’s death, which he had told authorities occurred when cats in his apartment accidentally overturned the child’s bouncing chair.

Tristan R. Williams, 30, had pleaded guilty in March to second-degree murder in the death of 3-week-old Kylie D. Williams.

Liberty police officers and emergency medical personnel went to an apartment in the 1200 block of Missouri Court on Feb. 15, 2010, to investigate a report of an infant who was not breathing.

Williams initially told police and emergency workers that two cats had pushed over the child while she was in a bouncing chair. He also told dispatchers he had tried to revive the child, according to court records.

However, investigators found no evidence that the child had fallen and later determined that her injuries were inflicted by “non-accidental trauma.” She had rib fractures, facial bruises, retinal hemorrhage and swelling of the brain, authorities said.

The child was taken to Liberty Hospital and later transferred to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where she was placed on life support. She died Feb. 16, 2010.